The mayor of L’Haÿ-les-Roses, a suburb of Paris, experienced a horrifying incident on Sunday as protesters targeted his home. They rammed a car into his house and set it on fire, causing injuries to his wife and one of his children. This violent display followed the ongoing protests across France in response to the police killing of a 17-year-old. Mayor Vincent Jeanbrun, in a statement on Twitter, condemned the act as a new low in terms of horror and disgrace.
Another mayor also became a target of violence in the town of La Riche near Tours, as rioters attempted to set fire to his car. Despite a relatively calmer Saturday evening compared to previous nights, reports of rioting, looting, and clashes emerged from Marseille, the country’s second-largest city.
The tensions remained high even after the funeral of Nahel Merzouk, the teenager whose fatal shooting during a traffic stop ignited the protests. Many protesters related their own experiences of neglect and racial discrimination in France’s impoverished urban suburbs to the fate of Merzouk. His grandmother, identified as Nadia, appealed to the rioters to stop their destructive activities, urging them not to harm shops, schools, or buses, as it is mothers who rely on public transportation.
Mayor Jeanbrun disclosed that he had been spending nights at the town hall for safety purposes, but even there, he and his family were not spared. The car attack occurred at 1:30 a.m. His wife and children sustained injuries while attempting to escape the chaos. According to Stéphane Hardouin, the public prosecutor in Créteil, initial findings suggest that the car deliberately crashed into the house, with accelerant found in a bottle. Fortunately, a small wall prevented the car from causing extensive damage, but the family’s car and front gate were affected. Mr. Hardouin added that the mayor’s wife broke her shin while fleeing the scene.
Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin condemned the attack as cowardly and terrible. He announced the initiation of an attempted-murder investigation and assured that the perpetrators would be held accountable for their heinous deeds. Prime Minister Élisabeth Borne also visited L’Haÿ-les-Roses to express solidarity with Mayor Jeanbrun, labeling the attack as unacceptable. She pledged that the government would introduce stricter punishments for those who target local representatives. President Emmanuel Macron convened a meeting with the prime minister, interior minister, and justice minister at the Élysée Palace to assess the situation nationwide.
During the meeting, President Macron emphasized the importance of restoring order and achieving calm. He also proposed an in-depth examination of the causes underlying the unrest. While details about this effort remain unclear, Macron previously engaged with the public in town hall-style meetings and debates to address crises such as the Yellow Vest protests.
Although there was no increase in the number of deployed police officers across the country, additional reinforcements were sent to Grenoble, Lyon, and Marseille to suppress protests. The Interior Ministry reported that 719 people were arrested overnight, with 45 police officers sustaining injuries. On Friday night, over 1,300 individuals were detained. Minister Darmanin confirmed the deployment of 45,000 police officers on Saturday evening, a figure comparable to the previous night, and declared a relatively calmer night thanks to the resolute actions taken by the police.
It is essential to note that Maud Bodoukian contributed to this report.
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